Thursday night was the LA Clippers’ first home playoff game at the Intuit Dome. The series between Denver and LA was tied to 1-1 after the Clippers scored 105-102 in Game 2.
In Game 3, the Nuggets quickly jumped into a double-digit lead. However, the Clippers had their own reaction. A 23-2 run extended in the second quarter. In the end, the Nuggets did not recover and lost 117-83. Worse, injuries are beginning to pile up due to Denver.
Can the Nuggets return to the Clippers from 2-1?
The Nugget confirmed it was a leg injury. https://t.co/phyu0qdijl
– Ramonashelburne (@Ramonashelburne) April 25, 2025
At the end of Game 2, the Nuggets were crunch time with the Clippers. Unfortunately, Michael Porter Jr. slowed the ball down and LA won the game. During the play, Porter Jr. flips the ball over and he flies to the ground and tries to get his possessions back. When that happened, a Clippers player fell over him and Porter Jr. injured his shoulder. He was able to play in Game 3, but was far from 100% healthy.
After the match, he explained to reporters that his injuries usually take four to five weeks to heal completely. The doctor told him that the injury wouldn’t get worse unless Proter Jr. sprained it again. He survived the pain of Game 3, but was not an effective player. The 26-year-old finished the game with seven points and was 2-9 over the arc. Porter Jr. estimated his shoulders to be 20-30% healthy.
Veteran Guardrassel Westbrook suffered a pre-game injury due to his inability to be healthy above Porter Jr. ESPN’s Ramona Shelbourne reported that Westbrook had turned his left foot. He tried to get injured before being sent out in the second quarter. Westbrook didn’t play in the second half. It is not ideal for the Nuggets, which rely on Westbrook’s production from the bench. This is two key players who are not fully healthy in Game 4 on Saturday night. Denver loses another game and can’t afford to be 3-1 in the series. Game 4 is a must-see for Nuggets.